PAEDOPHILE rockstar Ian Watkins was able to rape toddlers and babies for five years because police failed to act on a tip-off from his ex-girlfriend, it has been claimed.

Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins raped children for years after police failed to investigate

South Wales Police are set to face disciplinary action after failing to investigate the former Lostprophets frontman, even after being sent pictures of him violating children by his former lover.

The police watchdog is expected to instigate disciplinary action against the force following a three-year probe into how it responded to claims by Joanne Mjadzelics that Watkins was molesting children.

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Miss Mjadzelics, 41, first warned Pontypridd social services about Watkins in a December 2008 and an investigation was launched in early 2009.

But six months later the case was closed and no action was taken.

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Ian Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison after admitting 13 sexual offences against children

In May 2011, former model Miss Mjadzelics emailed the office of South Wales Police Chief Constable Peter Vaughan to say Watkins, 38, was repeatedly raping young children.

She also told officers she had been sent seven sick images of Watkins abusing young children while he was living in Los Angeles and she forwarded them onto police, but they failed to act.

Police actually labelled on their computer system Miss Mjadzelics as a nuisance who could not be trusted.

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Ian Watkins's former girlfriend says she sent police images of him molesting children

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is today expected to call for one detective to face a gross misconduct hearing and others to be disciplined when it publishes a summary report into the case.

Miss Mjadzelics said: “I was ignored by the police on multiple occasions. It is now clear that, had I been listened to, some children would not have come to harm at Watkins’ hands.

“The police have a lot to learn about how they treat credible witnesses and ­victims of abuse.”

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Watkins' ex girlfriend Joanna Mjadzelics claims she told police of his actions but they did not act

Watkins’ former girlfriend lodged an official complaint to the watchdog against South Wales Police in 2013 which is understood to have been upheld.

She added: “I’m relieved but remain deeply worried about what is still to be unearthed with regard to the conduct of the police.”

Watkins was arrested in December 2012 and in 2013 admitted 13 offences including rape and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a female under 13, as well as possession and distribution of indecent images of children.